tifosi77 wrote:The Department of the Navy was, is and ever shall be, the primary tool for military intervention and security.

The Navy is international logistics. A very important component to be sure, but "Primary Tool"? I wouldn't want to have to argue that point with the late General Schwarzkopf.

I wouldn't want you to argue that, either, cos it's wrong.

When crisis erupts in the world, the president does not ask "Where is the nearest Army brigade?" Land forces (Army and Air Force) require land to operate from, meaning permission from some host country..... permission that, often times, is not forthcoming. For example, the Iraq assault in Operation Desert Storm was only possible because Saudi Arabia allowed U.S. forces to stage out of their territory. However, there were three carrier battle groups operating in the Red Sea and Persian Gulf within weeks of Iraq's invasion of Kuwait representing a tactical capability greater than the entire Iraqi air force at the time, and two more carriers eventually completed the order of battle. All the while patiently waiting for the land forces to build up over three months......

Nearly half the world's population - and its associated infrastructure - lives within 150 miles of the sea. An aircraft carrier represents 4.5 acres of sovereign U.S. territory and its battle group can steam wherever it pleases. Until either of these factors change, the Navy will be primary tool of 'diplomacy by other means'.

King Sid the Great 87 wrote:I've seen nothing about the payroll holiday being extended, so we will all be paying 2% more.

What a gimmick, as are all "temporary" tax policy changes.

I've always thought that 'holiday' nothing more than a semantic gimmick, anyway. At my take-home level 2% amounts to less than $100 every month. What economic activity am I going to generate with that $100 that I could not do without it? It's honestly less than negligible.

King Sid the Great 87 wrote:I've seen nothing about the payroll holiday being extended, so we will all be paying 2% more.

What a gimmick, as are all "temporary" tax policy changes.

I've always thought that 'holiday' nothing more than a semantic gimmick, anyway. At my take-home level 2% amounts to less than $100 every month. What economic activity am I going to generate with that $100 that I could not do without it? It's honestly less than negligible.

It won't change my habits, but I could see a single teacher making $50k annually, living in an area where rent goes for $800-$1000/month for a one bedroom feeling squeezed.

King Sid the Great 87 wrote:I've seen nothing about the payroll holiday being extended, so we will all be paying 2% more.

What a gimmick, as are all "temporary" tax policy changes.

I've always thought that 'holiday' nothing more than a semantic gimmick, anyway. At my take-home level 2% amounts to less than $100 every month. What economic activity am I going to generate with that $100 that I could not do without it? It's honestly less than negligible.

Most folks I know will just spend $1200 a year less on video games

Who needs the video game or entertainment industry anyway?

tifosi77 wrote:

ExPatriatePen wrote:

tifosi77 wrote:The Department of the Navy was, is and ever shall be, the primary tool for military intervention and security.

The Navy is international logistics. A very important component to be sure, but "Primary Tool"? I wouldn't want to have to argue that point with the late General Schwarzkopf.

I wouldn't want you to argue that, either, cos it's wrong.

When crisis erupts in the world, the president does not ask "Where is the nearest Army brigade?" Land forces (Army and Air Force) require land to operate from, meaning permission from some host country..... permission that, often times, is not forthcoming. For example, the Iraq assault in Operation Desert Storm was only possible because Saudi Arabia allowed U.S. forces to stage out of their territory. However, there were three carrier battle groups operating in the Red Sea and Persian Gulf within weeks of Iraq's invasion of Kuwait representing a tactical capability greater than the entire Iraqi air force at the time, and two more carriers eventually completed the order of battle. All the while patiently waiting for the land forces to build up over three months......

Nearly half the world's population - and its associated infrastructure - lives within 150 miles of the sea. An aircraft carrier represents 4.5 acres of sovereign U.S. territory and its battle group can steam wherever it pleases. Until either of these factors change, the Navy will be primary tool of 'diplomacy by other means'.

I did conceed the logistics angle. But as there's only so much you can with ariel attacks and shelling. Eventually you need "boots on the ground".

It's like saying the most important part of Amazons business model is UPS

http://politics.blogs.foxnews.com/2013/ ... nding-cutsRoughly $1 in spending cuts for every $40+ in new taxes. I have to be careful of what I wish for; I was hoping something would be done about the debt and deficit. Something was done. Barry also went on record that future cuts would be done on his balanced approach; any cut would be offset by a tax increase(on any non friends of Barry I imagine). I always figured he'd embrace the California model and he has.

So his Simpson - Bowles commission recommended $3 in cuts for every $1 in new taxes and we got < 3 cents in cuts for every $1 in new taxes.Outstanding work by our Washington drunken sailors.

ExPatriatePen wrote:I did conceed the logistics angle. But as there's only so much you can with ariel attacks and shelling. Eventually you need "boots on the ground".

It's like saying the most important part of Amazons business model is UPS

In almost all scenarios, the boots on the ground aspect requires someone else's permission to accomplish. And the aerial campaigns in Bosnia and Libya have both shown that focused air power can bring about the desired outcomes in certain circumstances.

It's not perfect or without its limitations, but no matter how much you poo-poo it the Navy is the only means that military influence can be wielded without first needed to get the okay from another nation.

I've seen polling that indicates the public considers the Air Force to be the most important branch, but they can really only exert influence once the decision is made to being dropping bombs. An aircraft carrier parked off the coast of your capital city can have an amazing deterrent effect.

Gaucho wrote:Why would I want to be born in Singapore?

Hawker stands. Singapore is the only Asian country I desperately want to visit.

King Sid the Great 87 wrote:I've seen nothing about the payroll holiday being extended, so we will all be paying 2% more.

What a gimmick, as are all "temporary" tax policy changes.

I've always thought that 'holiday' nothing more than a semantic gimmick, anyway. At my take-home level 2% amounts to less than $100 every month. What economic activity am I going to generate with that $100 that I could not do without it? It's honestly less than negligible.

It was the only way to "cut" taxes on those who don't pay any federal income tax. But it's not about your $50-75 a month, multiply that by 150 million and that's how much is taken out of the economy. For people living paycheck to paycheck, even $25 is going to hurt but this never should have happened to being with. It's like my employer not putting my money in my 401k, adding it to my paycheck and calling it a raise.

A bunch of celebrities got together to do a PSA demanding "a plan" to combat gun violence. Of course, they didn't offer any insight on said "plan", it was more just a general call for action with sound bytes. Someone interspersed all of their contributions with all of the clips from film and television in which they all have profited from some type of glorified gun violence in the past.